Academic Policies and Professional Responsibilities Governing the Doctoral Program
in Nursing Education

These policies are consistent with and supplementary to policies in the current SCSU
and WCSU graduate catalogs and SCSU and WCSU Student Handbooks.

The provisions of this manual are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between
the SCSU and WCSU Departments of Nursing and the students. The departments reserve
the right to change any provision or any requirement at any time.

All policies within apply to all doctoral students.

ADMISSION

Prospective students will apply to either SCSU or WCSU and receive their degree from
the institution where they are matriculated. Admission policies to the program will
be consistent with existing criteria for admitting graduate students at SCSU and WCSU.
A maximum of 25 students (total for both institutions) will be admitted, as a cohort,
every other year. Applications will be received in the spring semester starting on
February 1, with the expectation that those accepted will begin the program of study
in the following fall semester. A faculty committee, consisting of faculty from both
institutions, will be responsible for reviewing application files, ranking candidates
and conducting interviews with applicants selected as finalists. Applicants will be
responsible for ensuring that all required documents are received by the Graduate
School of the university to which they are applying.

The deadline for applications to the Ed.D in Nursing Education program has been extended
to June 30th, 2016. Qualified applicants who were denied admission to the program
due to faculty or space constraints may be placed on a waiting list. Applicants on
the waiting list will be notified if a slot is made available.

The overall goal of the admissions committee is to admit individuals who, in the professional
opinion of the faculty, demonstrate the greatest potential for making significant
contributions to the field of nursing education through their teaching, scholarship
and service activities.

Students attain matriculation status when they have met all requirements for admission
to the Ed.D. in Nursing Education Program and have received a letter of acceptance
from the School of Graduate Studies at SCSU or WCSU with a copy of their planned program
attached (see graduate catalogues at SCSU and WCSU).

Specific requirements for admission to the Ed.D in Nursing Education are as follows:

A. Graduate School Application and fee. Application should be made to the Graduate
School of the respective institutions where they wish to be matriculated (WCSU or
SCSU)

B. Masters’ degree in nursing, with an overall GPA of at least 3.0, from a regionally
accredited university

C .Official transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate coursework

D. Current RN and/or APRN license

E. Submission of MAT or GRE scores taken within the last five years (requirement waived
if MSN GPA is greater than or equal to a 3.4)

F. CV or Resume. The CV/Resume (five page limit) should highlight professional experiences,
service, scholarship, awards, publications, certifications, and presentations should
be included. Continuing Education in the last five years is pertinent.

G. Personal or Phone Interview- applicants who are considered finalists may be required
to participate in a personal, phone or videoconference interview with a member of
the Ed.D. Program Committee

H. Three letters of reference: Letters of reference should focus on academic and professional
abilities. At least one letter is preferred to be from an academic source

I. Background Checks (students are responsible for the cost)

J. For international students, a score of at least 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or
80 (internet) on the TOEFL exam

K. Personal Statement describing the following (limited to three pages):

reasons for seeking admission to the Ed.D. in Nursing Education Program

professional goals

research interests related to the scholarship of teaching and learning

potential contributions to nursing education

discussion of experiences in previous graduate work

TRANSFER CREDIT

Students admitted to the Ed.D. in Nursing Education Program may transfer up to six
(6) credits towards the degree. However, a student admitted to the Ed.D. in Nursing
Education Program and who has begun taking classes within the program, will not be
eligible to transfer additional credits unless the student has obtained advanced written
permission from the Ed.D Program Coordinator(s).

Requirements for transfer credit include:

No more than a five (5) year time period from the time the course was taken to the
time when requesting transfer credit.

Completion of course in a Doctoral Program at an accredited institution of higher
education.

Recommendation by the Ed.D. Program Coordinators (from SCSU and WCSU) to the Graduate
Office (where the student is matriculated) for acceptance of the course for graduate
transfer credit.

All pertinent course materials, such as course description, syllabus, and official
transcripts etc., should be submitted to the Ed.D. Program Coordinator(s) where requesting
approval for transfer credit.

Grades from courses accepted in transfer are not computed in graduate quality point
average (QPR).

Course must be equivalent to those in the program.

Course grade must be at least a B.

WCSU GRADING

The GPA is computed using quality points earned for graduate credit at WCSU. Grades
for courses accepted in transfer are not computed in the GPA. The Division of Graduate
Studies uses the following quality point system to compute the GPA:

• Course grades of “D+,” D,” “D-,” or “F” may not be counted toward a graduate degree.
However, they are included in computation of the GPA.

• The grade “WF” is computed in the GPA. It carries academic penalty. This grade is
received when a student stops attending class without officially withdrawing, or withdraws
without the instructor’s permission after the published date for withdrawing without
penalty.

• The “INC” grade must be made up within a semester of the time the “INC” was recorded.
If not completed within that time, the grade becomes an “F” unless the instructor
recommends an extension of time for justifiable cause, the extension not to exceed
one additional semester (fall, spring, or summer session). The only exception to this
policy will be made for students making satisfactory progress while completing a thesis
or research project. Such students are limited only by the time allowed to complete
their degree.

• The grades “P” or “FP” are not computed in the QPR. “A student may choose or change
a choice of this option up to the final day of the drop/add registration period for
a semester”. The choice or change must be made in the Division of Graduate Studies.

• Students who choose to audit a course (“AUD”) receive no grade and no academic credit
for that course (see WCSU Graduate Catalog for further information).

The grade of ‘I” (incomplete) is given for work that was passing but which could not
be completed due to circumstances beyond the students’ control. An “Incomplete” may
not be given to enable a student to do additional work to raise a deficient grade.
“Q” code indicates that students must register to take the course again. A code of
“Q” may be assigned each time a student does not complete course requirements (see
SCSU Graduate School Catalog for other information about incomplete grades).

Grading policies are determined by where the course (the student is enrolled in) originates
(where the faculty teaching the course is employed)

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Students failing to meet academic standards at their admitting institution will be
reviewed by the Ed.D. Program Committee where academic decisions are made.

Doctoral students will be placed on academic probation for not meeting overall QPR
requirements and/or for not meeting course requirements as described below.

Students will automatically be placed on academic probation if the QPR falls below
a 3.0. Students will be notified of this status by the Graduate Program Coordinators.
If, after attempting an additional 9 credits, the QPR is still below 3.0, the student
will be dismissed from the Ed.D. in Nursing Education Program. Please note an overall
QPR of a 3.0 is required for graduation.

REPEATING COURSES AND PROGRAM PROGRESSION

A grade of “B” or above must be achieved in each course in the program of study or
the course must be repeated. Only one course within the program of study may be repeated
and a grade of “B” (3.0) or better must be achieved on the second attempt. The course
may only be repeated once. Grades achieved for both attempts are included in the
calculation of the QPR (SCSU and WCSU graduate school policy). Failure to achieve
a “B” or better in the repeated course will result in dismissal from the program without
the possibility of readmission. Students who repeat a course must join the next available
cohort (applicants are admitted every other year).

ACADEMIC PROGRESSION/DISMISSAL

Conditions under which students are subject to academic dismissal are found in the
SCSU and WCSU School of Graduate Studies catalogue and the student handbooks.

Students on academic probation who fail to raise the QPR to a 3.0 after completing
the next 9 credits of course work will be dismissed from the program.

Students whose QPR falls below 3.0 during the last semester will be placed on probation
and given one semester to raise the QPR level to 3.0. Failure to raise the QPR to
3.0 will result in dismissal from the program and the graduate school. A student who
is dismissed from the program will not be considered for readmission.

Students will be notified in writing of probation, suspension/dismissal status by
the Ed.D. Program Coordinators and by the School of Graduate Studies at SCSU or WCSU.

Copies of letter notification of academic status are placed in the student’s file.

All requirements for the Ed.D. in Nursing Education Program must be completed within
a 7-year period. The 7-year period begins when the first doctoral course to be included
in the program of study is taken. Extensions may be granted if there are compelling
extenuating circumstances. A student may petition the Ed.D. in Nursing Education Program
Coordinators prior to the expiration of courses for an extension. Extensions must
be approved by the Ed.D. Committees. Revalidation of a limited number of courses may
be permitted.

Students who withdraw from the program (and were in good academic standing at the
time of withdrawal) may petition the Ed.D. Program Committee for readmission. Students
must meet with the appropriate Ed.D. Program Coordinator to discuss their potential
for success within the program. Students must reapply to the program and meet current
program admission requirements. If readmission is granted, students will be expected
to join the next available cohort. Students must repeat courses if the course was
taken more than five years ago.

ADVISEMENT AND PROGRAM PLANNING

The Ed.D. Program Coordinator at the institution where the student has matriculated
is the academic advisor for all doctoral students at that institution. Upon formal
admittance to the program, each student is assigned an advisor (the Ed.D. Program
Coordinator) to assist in program planning and in reviewing the student’s progress.
During the initial meeting with an advisor, a planned program of study will be completed
and forwarded to the SCSU or WCSU Graduate School.

Students are required to meet with their advisors upon entry to the program and at
regular intervals for the purpose of program review, performance evaluation, and advisement.
These will generally take place during the Residency periods and at midpoint and at
the end of each semester. Advisement sessions may occur in person, by phone or through
video-conferencing.

STUDENT E-PORTFOLIOS

Each doctoral student must maintain an e- portfolio consisting of at least one assignment
from each course in the planned program of study, and other materials that document
individual student achievement of the doctoral program competencies, goals and outcomes.
Students must be willing to share their portfolio with the Ed.D. Program Committee
and/or advisor. Student portfolios are used for program evaluation purposes. Students
will be notified when faculty request portfolio submissions.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

The following excerpt on academic honesty is directly quoted from the SCSU AND WCSU
Student Handbooks and/or Graduate Catalogs.

Academic honesty is the cornerstone of higher education. An honest approach to one’s
work is the only approach-in the laboratory in research, or in examinations. Cheating
of any kind is, and must be, condemned by all members of a college community’

Behavior that falls under the heading of academic dishonesty includes the following:

The use of illicit aids during examination periods

The giving and receiving of aid on any examinations

Copying from another student’s examination, term paper, laboratory report, etc.

The theft of course material

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another writer and presenting them as your
own. It is a kind of academic theft, and is therefore dishonest. Once your name appears
on an essay or term paper, you are stating that the ideas and language in the paper
that are not attributed to another are entirely your own, and the reader assumes that
these are your work. An obvious form of plagiarism is copying the exact words from
your source without providing quotation marks and without giving credit to the source,
usually in a footnote. A less obvious, but equally dishonest form of plagiarism is
the changing of a few words (paraphrasing) or using of an author’s original idea without
properly introducing and documenting that change or usage. The ideas, interpretations,
and words of an author belong to the author. They are the author’s property. They
are protected by law and they must be acknowledged whenever you borrow them.

Students are referred to the SCSU and WCSU Student Handbooks for information about
the consequences of Academic Dishonesty and student appeal processes when instances
of academic dishonestly are reported.

GRADE APPEAL

Students are referred to the SCSU and WCSU Student Handbooks and/or Graduate Catalogs
for information about how to appeal at grade at SCSU and WCSU.

Grade appeal policy implementation procedures are determined by where the course (the
student is enrolled in) originates.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL

Students are referred to the SCSU and WCSU Student Handbooks and/or Graduate Catalogs
for information about course withdrawal.

Course withdrawal policies are determined by where the course (the student is enrolled
in) originates (where the faculty member teaching the course is employed).

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION POLICIES

All matriculated doctoral students who have completed all requisite requirements
to become doctoral candidates must pass a written comprehensive examination. The exam
is designed by the doctoral faculty to assess the students’ mastery and synthesis
of knowledge garnered during coursework. Further, it is intended to gauge the student’s
potential for independent dissertation research. Students must pass the Comprehensive
Examination in order to progress to the Science of Nursing Education course work and
the dissertation phase of the program of study.

The comprehensive examination is given during the intercession following the 2nd fall
semester of the program and before the Science of Nursing Education courses. The comprehensive
examination will consist of three questions corresponding to the following program
concentrations: Foundations of Teaching in Higher Education, Specialization in Nursing
Education, and Leadership in Nursing Education. Students unsuccessful on this examination
will be required to meet with their advisor to review their potential for progression
within the program. Upon approval of the Advisor, and with positive recommendations
from the program coordinators, the student will be permitted to re-write one or more
sections of the comprehensive examination. Students unable to write a successful examination
on the second attempt will be dismissed from the doctoral program.

At least two graduate faculty members (one from SCSU and one from WCSU) read each
blinded individual student examination and independently rate the three sections using
a standardized rubric. The Ed.D. Program Committee calculates a composite score for
each examination, and grades it as pass/fail according to pre-established criteria.
In the event that there is substantial disagreement among faculty about exam ratings,
and/or composite scores, the Ed.D. Program Coordinators will make a final decision
regarding the final grade on the examination.

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

The dissertation proposal is a required component of the doctoral program, and must
be approved for a student to become a doctoral candidate. Specific details regarding
the dissertation proposal and required forms will be distributed to doctoral students
by the Ed.D. Program Coordinators.

DOCTORAL CANDIDACY

Once students satisfactorily pass coursework, the comprehensive examination and the
dissertation proposal hearing, they are considered doctoral candidates and may begin
dissertation research.

DISSERTATION

The dissertation is a culminating component of the doctoral program. Only upon successful
dissertation defense before a dissertation committee may a student apply for graduation.
All requisite forms and further details are available from the coordinators of the
Ed.D. in Nursing Education Program. Students must complete all degree requirements
within seven years.

DOCTORAL STUDENT PARTICIPATiON

Doctoral students admitted into the Ed.D. in Nursing Education Program are invited
to participate in Ed.D. program curriculum meetings. Students in each cohort (one
from WCSU and one from SCSU) will be invited to volunteer to serve as student representatives
to the program committee. The responsibilities of the student representatives are
to bring student concerns and comments to the program committee and to share news
from the program committee with the students.

Ed.D. PROGRAM RESIDENCIES

Students matriculated into the Ed.D. Program must attend three (three day) on-ground
Residencies. Residency 1 will occur in August (before the first doctoral courses begin).
Residency 2 will occur in June (between the first and second year of the program)
and Residency 3 will occur in June (between the second and third year of the program).
The Residencies will be located on the WCSU or SCSU campuses.

DOCTORAL ROLE SYNTHESES COURSE

Students enrolled in NUR 808 may participate in educational practicums located in
academic nursing education settings. Students must comply with all requirements of
the agency or agencies where the practicum is located. These may include (but are
not limited to): health requirements, CPR, background checks, fingerprinting and/or
drug toxicology testing.